Enrollment Open For Energizing Indiana Home Assessments

Posted on Author WKVI

Energizing Indiana is now offering residential home energy assessments as a smart approach to improve the comfort of Hoosier homes. The assessments can lower energy bills, improve in-home air quality, and increase the value of the home overall.

According to Energizing Indiana, their advisors will guide participants step-by-step through the process to produce long-term, cost-effective energy savings by analyzing energy use and recommending appropriate efficiency measures. Further, they will install several low-cost energy-saving measures, and even assess the heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning systems to determine if they are operating efficiently. Air duct sealing, insulation levels, and more may also be inspected to evaluate the home’s energy consumption and heating and cooling efficiency.

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Kemin Industries Ribbon-Cutting Draws A Crowd

Posted on Author WKVI
R.W. and Mary Nelson were presented with a plaque from the Starke County Economic Development Foundation.

The ribbon-cutting ceremony for the newly-established Kemin Industries facility in North Judson drew an unexpectedly large crowd as more than 50 people turned up to celebrate the new industry brought to the town.

Kemin is an innovative bioscience company dedicated to manufacturing ingredients that provide nutrition and health benefits for humans and animals alike. Through their commitment to feed and food safety, the company manufactures more than 500 specialty ingredients for the global feed and food industries as well as the health, nutrition, and beauty markets.

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Return To School Went Smoothly Throughout Kankakee Valley

Posted on Author WKVI

This was the first week of school for area students.

Superintendent A.J. Gappa talks about how the first week went for Knox Community School students.

“After talking to the principals at each building, I guess the one word we could use is smooth,” said Gappa. “There were no major glitches. Bus loading and unloading seemed to go well. I talked to the people at the transportation garage and all of the routes seemed to be in place and moving well. I don’t have any preliminary numbers, but hopefully our student population is at least as much as last year.”

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Officials Release Identity Of Woman Injured In Washington Township Accident

Posted on Author WKVI

Officials have released the identity of a woman injured in an accident in Washington Township Wednesday night.

Police say 26-year-old Amanda Tomerlin of Knox was traveling at a high rate of speed on 700 East just north of 25 North in Starke County when she reportedly went off the road near Eagle Creek Cemetery. Her car struck the fence, causing the vehicle to spin around and into a tree before coming to a rest against another portion of the cemetery’s fence.

Tomerlin was taken to IU Health Starke Hospital for injuries sustained in the accident, and she was later transported to Memorial Hospital in South Bend.

Toxicology tests were inconclusive and the case remains under investigation.

Monterey Man Injured Following Pursuit In Allegedly Stolen Vehicle

Posted on Author WKVI

A Monterey man was injured after a pursuit with Starke County police on Tuesday.

Information was received by Sheriff’s Department deputies that Bobby Jewel was driving a stolen pick-up and manufacturing methamphetamine in the Monterey area in Starke County.

Officers located the vehicle in the roadway on Lincoln Street, but when they approached the vehicle, it sped away. A traffic stop was attempted on the vehicle for unsafe start, but the driver ignored the lights and sirens. The pursuit ended after the vehicle went through a shed and a chain link fence in a yard on Adams Street in Monterey.

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One Injured in Accident in Washington Township

Posted on Author WKVI

A woman was injured after an accident in Washington Township Wednesday night.

The driver, whose name has not been released, was driving at a high rate of speed on 700 E. just north of 25 N. in Starke County. She reportedly went off the roadway by the Eagle Creek Cemetery and hit the fence. This caused her vehicle to spin around and hit a tree. Her car came to rest against another portion of the cemetery’s fence. She was taken to IU Health Starke Hospital for injuries sustained in the accident and later transported to Memorial Hospital in South Bend.

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Two Plea Guilty To Theft At Residence In Knox

Posted on Author WKVI
Starke County Courthouse

Two people pleaded guilty to counts of Theft as Class D felonies in the Starke Circuit Court on Wednesday.

Stephen Wood and David Miller were arrested on Wednesday, Jan. 28 following an alleged burglary incident, and the pair pleaded guilty to Theft as part of a plea agreement. Charges of Class B felony Burglary will be dropped as part of the agreement upon sentencing with a recommended sentence of 18 months for both, with nine months suspended.

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Bass Lake Man Dies in Motorcycle Accident

Posted on Author WKVI

A Bass Lake man died Wednesday after being injured in a motorcycle accident.

Officers from the Starke County Sheriff’s Department determined that William (Bill) Wagner, 55, was on State Road 10 just west of the Bass Lake Beach and went left of center just prior to the start of a curve. The motorcycle then went into a ditch, struck a raised driveway causing it to go airborne. The motorcycle landed on the front wheel and the back went airborne. The driver and the motorcycle then hit a tree.

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Accident Reported On U.S. 30 Near 750 East

Posted on Author WKVI
Two semis were involved in an accident on U.S. 30 near Hamlet.

An accident involving two semis on U.S. 30 caused emergency personnel to block off access to the area until the scene can be cleared by authorities.

One semi reportedly overturned as a result of the accident, and multiple fire units were spotted at the scene. No further details are available at this time, but the investigation is still underway and WKVI will report any updates as they come in.

The accident reportedly occurred on U.S. 30 near 750 East in Hamlet Wednesday afternoon.

Revised Order Against C&C Salvage Filed In Court

Posted on Author WKVI
Starke County Courthouse

The revised injunction against C&C Salvage in Knox has been filed in the Starke Circuit Court.

The order was filed against C&C Salvage after the Planning Commission says they learned C&C Salvage did not have the proper permits from the commission to expand its operations, but James Campbell, the owner of C&C Salvage, had expanded the salvage and junk yard to the south, nearly doubling its size. Further, the Indiana Department of Environmental Management conducted an inspection in May and found several violations of both state and federal laws.

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Marsh Manor Buyer Interested In Getting Building Up To Code

Posted on Author WKVI
Marsh Manor

The Knox City Council met this week and heard from Viola Woods, the attorney for the new owner of 304 S. Main St. in Knox, more commonly known as Marsh Manor.

Woods had asked the council what needs to be done in order for her client to improve the property enough to bring it back up to liveable standards, as it had previously been condemned following a fire that destroyed a portion of the house.

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Civil War Reenactment To Take Place Near Hoosier Valley RR Museum

Posted on Author WKVI

Go back in time at the Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum in North Judson this weekend and experience the huge impact railroading had on the Civil War.

On Saturday, Aug. 18, residents are encouraged to wander through the Civil War encampment and experience the life of early soldiers. Among the reenactors will be the Indiana 20th Volunteers Division, including their leader, Col. John Wheeler – a soldier from Crown Point who was killed near Devil’s Den during the Battle of Gettysburg.

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Work Session Shows Community Support For New Knox Wing Construction

Posted on Author WKVI
Knox Community School Superintendent A.J. Gappa

The work session held by the Knox Community School Board last week shed some light on the feelings of the community concerning the Palmer Wing project at the elementary school. Superintendent A.J. Gappa explained that of the three options available – do nothing, renovate the existing wing, or build a new one – the consensus seemed to favor constructing a new wing.

With just over a dozen patrons in attendance alongside staff members at the meeting, Gappa says the majority seemed to favor the idea of building a new wing and carrying on with classes as normal until the wing has been completed. Then, classes would be added to the new wing, and the 60-year-old Palmer Wing would be torn down. Gappa explained the new wing would likely be at the west end of the newer structure of the elementary school.

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IU Health Starke Staff Attends Strategic Planning Retreat

Posted on Author WKVI

IU Health Starke Hospital personnel attended a Strategic Planning Retreat this week. Presenting pertinent information were Doug Leonard, the president of the Indiana Hospital Association; Tory Castor, vice president of Government Affairs at IU Health Indianapolis; and Dr. Curt Bechler, managing partner of Venture International, LLC.

Included was a review of surveys taken by community members and an examination of national trends. Most of the respondents expressed confidence in the medical staff, and praised the decision to affiliate with IU Health. One weakness, however, was the perception that the antiquated Starke Hospital building denoted inferior services – but Hospital Interim CEO David Hyatt noted that the services rendered at Starke have never been better.

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Kelly Miller Circus Coming to Knox

Posted on Author WKVI
WKVI's Tom Berg clowns around with Carlee and Charley from the Kelly Miller Circus.

The WKVI studios had two special guests this week in preparation for the upcoming circus event in Knox. Two circus clowns, Carlee and Charley, visited Tom Berg in the studio to give a sneak peek of the upcoming event.

Carlee explained that the Kelly Miller Circus will be coming to town on Aug. 29, and she says it’s going to be quite the show.

“We like to let people know that when the circus comes to town, we don’t fool around,” Carlee said. “We don’t just bring one, don’t just bring two, we bring three of them. Three elephants come with the Kelly Miller Circus! But those aren’t the only animals we have, no. It’s three elephants, four camels, five tigers, six ponies, seven performing puppy dogs, and a zebra!”

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Injunction Order Against C&C Salvage To Be Revised

Posted on Author WKVI
Starke County Courthouse

Starke Circuit Court Judge Kim Hall heard a motion to set aside an order of injunction filed against C&C Salvage of Knox.

An injunction order was filed against C&C Salvage after the Planning Commission says they learned C&C Salvage did not have the proper permits from the commission to expand its operations, but James Campbell, the owner of C&C Salvage, had expanded the salvage and junk yard to the south, nearly doubling its size. Further, the Indiana Department of Environmental Management conducted an inspection in May and found several violations of both state and federal laws.

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Wythogan Park Still Closed – Mayor Urges Residents To Stay Away

Posted on Author WKVI
Knox Mayor Rick Chambers

Knox Mayor Rick Chambers would like to remind all residents that Wythogan Park is still closed while cleanup crews continue efforts to remove branches, limbs, debris, and other items strewn about and destroyed from the July storms.

Chambers says the park is closed until further notice, but he’s hopeful that it will open toward the end of September. He says the council is hoping to let a contract this week for the cleanup work, but the contractors have indicated that it would take roughly four to six weeks after the bid is awarded before the cleanup can be completed.

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RR Crossing On SR 8 Near Knox To Be Closed Temporarily

Posted on Author WKVI

The Norfolk & Southern Railroad has announced plans to close the railroad crossing on State Road 8, approximately 1.7 miles east of Knox from 8 a.m. on Aug. 27 through Sept. 10 at 7 p.m.

A detour has been proposed from U.S. 35 to U.S. 30, then to State Road 23.

INDOT Railroad and Utilities Engineer Mike Essling told WKVI that while this length of time for a railroad to be closed is slightly longer than the norm, the railroad company will coordinate efforts on restoring access to the tracks as quickly as possible.

This kind of maintenance is routine, and all emergency services, school corporations, and other affected parties will be notified of the track’s closure. Until the crossing is re-opened, drivers are encouraged to take the detour and plan accordingly.

NJSP Students Participate in INPact Indiana

Posted on Author WKVI
Band Director Matthew Hibbets was one of the instructors while Robert Miller, percussion and Caitlyn Barnes, clarinet participated.

Approximately 200 eighth, ninth, and tenth grade band students participated in the INPact Indiana’s Future All-Star Band for the Drum Corps International championships this weekend.

The event, which took place at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis on Aug. 10 and 11, featured musicians from the West Point Academy, speakers by the Blue Man Group, and entertainment from Sean Cannon from American Idol Season 7 – and when they weren’t being entertained, the students spent their time rehearsing.

On Aug. 11, the INPact Band performed to begin the DCI Parade near the war memorial, and then finished out the evening with a performance with Sean Cannon in front of 10,000 fans in Lucas Oil Stadium to begin the evening’s DCI Championships. North Judson-San Pierre Band Director Matthew Hibbets was one of the instructors while percussionist Robert Miller and Caitlyn Barnes on clarinet participated.

Yellow River Cleanup Project To Begin Soon

Posted on Author WKVI

Efforts to clean up the logjams and other debris from the Yellow River will soon be underway. Starke County Surveyor Dennis Estok says the county commissioners this week signed the contract with the company that will handle the cleanup, Thomas Excavating and Welding, and the work can proceed as soon as the contractor is ready.

Estok says the project will be paid for by a grant through the Disaster Recovery Act that the county had applied for previously through the Office of Community and Rural Affairs, which provided the county with $190,000 to be used to remove the fallen trees and debris from the river. However, Estok noted that after engineering fees and other expenses, they’re left with only $160,000 – but he says that’s more than enough to pay the company, which presented a bid of only $118,000 for the cleanup.

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